FEISTY midfielder Michael Stewart insists his red card in Hearts’ SPL opener will not make him change his attitude or style of play in the Europa League.

The newly-appointed captain has vowed to perform with the same fire and determination against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb tonight in the red-hot cauldron of the Maksimir Stadium.

And Stewart angrily hit back at suggestions his sending off for two rash tackles against Dundee United at Tannadice on Monday had let down the Edinburgh club and their fans.

He said: “I am not interested in people who say these things because they don’t know what they are talking about.

“These things happen in football and we move on.

“There was no malice in it. I was trying to drive the team forward by making a couple of tackles. I thought we were flat.

“There were other incidents on the pitch that were far worse.

“Unfortunately, the referee saw fit to give me two yellow cards and turned a blind eye to other things. But my approach won’t change.”

Stewart will lead from the front in Zagreb but he knows that concentration and good discipline are key elements of achieving the kind of result that would keep the play-off alive for the return leg in Edinburgh next Thursday night.

And the 28-year-old insists the confidence that would be gained from an extended run in Europe would improve their domestic fortunes.

Stewart said: “Our achievements so far will pale into insignificance if we manage to get through but you start to enjoy the occasion.

“It gives you the motivation to get to the group stages and get more trips. It’s a bit early to start saying this week could shape our season, because if we don’t get through I am sure we will concentrate on the league and make sure that is a success.

“But if we were to get through, it would be a major boost. From that aspect it would give our season a different slant.

“And that’s something you would definitely rather have than not.

“I don’t think we can underestimate how important this game is going to be. A few seasons ago Aberdeen were getting past the group stages, Celtic were in the last 16 of the Champions League and Rangers reached the UEFA Cup Final.

“All of a sudden people were talking about how well the teams were doing and how good Scottish football was.

“These things are cyclical. They come and go.

“I’m sure that qualifying would help us financially and improve the stature of the club.

“The players would be performing on a different level and that adds excitement to the week-to-week involvement of the league.

“It adds spice and it is something you definitely want to be involved in.

“It is a different environment to the games in the SPL. That puts everyone on their toes and generates a certain amount of excitement.

“It will be a tactical game. You’re coming up against a different style of football and you have to make sure you are set up right to deal with that. It will be important to keep our heads.

“Ultimately, we have to give ourselves a chance of taking the game back to Tynecastle and hopefully prevailing there. It is very important we do not give a lot away here.”

Stewart insists Csaba Laszlo’s side can cope with playing two big games in four days.

He said: “I do not think what happened at Tannadice has affected this match at all.

“It would have been better if the game had been played on Saturday but unfortunately the authorities thought it best we play on Monday night.

“The pitch is not the best but it is the same for both teams.

“We have approached in the right way in terms of preparation. The manager has spoken to us at length about what is to be expected from the opposition and what we have to do to counteract that.

“There has been no stone left unturned to find a solution to get the right result here.”